The Battle to Protect the Ballot: Voter Suppression Measures Passed Since 2013

States across the country are passing measures that make it harder and harder for Americans – particularly African-Americans, the elderly, students and people with disabilities – to exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot. These measures include requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote and proof of citizenship to register, cutting back on early voting, eliminating Election Day registration, new restrictions on voter registration drives and additional barriers to voting for people with criminal convictions. The map below outlines which states passed voter suppression measures since January 1, 2013 and where the right to vote remains under siege today.

Alabama

Alabama

Voter suppression measure threatened or passed in 2014

A bill --HB 91 -- has been introduced that would impose a stringent timeline on third parties seeking to register people to vote. If passed, the bill would require that people who handle voter registration materials to submit those materials to an elections authority within 72 hours. Those who fail to do so may be charged with a Class C Misdemeanor and barred from participating in community organizing activities for one year. 72 hours is a very stringent deadline, and makes it much more difficult to hold voter registration drives.

Arkansas

Arkansas

Voter suppression measure passed or announced in 2013

Arizona

Arizona

Voter suppression measure passed or announced in 2013

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that states could not impose a documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement for those who register to vote using the federal form. Voters declare under penalty of perjury that they are citizens when they register using the federal form.

Arizona has implemented a dual registration system to prevent people who use the federal form from voting in state and local elections unless they show additional documentary proof of citizenship. Voter registration for thousands of Kansans is already being held in suspense" - essentially limbo - because of the new documentation requirements. Under the two-tiered system people who complied with all legal requirements for voter registration are denied the right to vote in state and local elections because of the registration form they used.

Florida

Florida

Voter suppression measure passed or announced in 2013

After the Supreme Court ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, Florida resumed plans to attempt to purge the voter rolls of suspected noncitizens.

Georgia

Georgia

Voter suppression measure threatened or passed in 2014

A bill -- HR 891 -- would reduce the early voting period from 21 days to six days in all municipal elections. However, the bill would leave the early voting period intact for state, county and federal elections, creating two different standards.

Iowa

Iowa

Voter suppression measure passed or announced in 2013

In 2013, Iowa's governor issued Executive Order 70 making it nearly impossible for people with past felony convictions to ever regain their voting rights. ACLU of Iowa is also fighting a voter suppression measure that purges voting rolls and restricts qualified voters from participating in elections.

Kansas

Kansas

Voter suppression measure passed or announced in 2013

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that states could not impose a documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement for those who register to vote using the federal form. Voters declare under penalty of perjury that they are citizens when they register using the federal form.

Kansas has implemented a dual registration system to prevent people who use the federal form from voting in state and local elections unless they show additional documentary proof of citizenship. Voter registration for thousands of Kansans is already being held in suspense" - essentially limbo - because of the new documentation requirements. Under the two-tiered system people who complied with all legal requirements for voter registration are denied the right to vote in state and local elections because of the registration form they used.The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Kansas filed a lawsuit challenging Kansas' two-tiered voter registration system.

Missouri

Missouri

Voter suppression measure threatened or passed in 2014

The State Senate introduced a Constitutional amendment in 2014 that would require a restrictive photo ID bil.

Mississippi

Mississippi

Voter suppression measure threatened or passed in 2014

After the Supreme Court ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, the secretary of state said Mississippi will enact a strict photo ID law.

Montana

Montana

Voter suppression measure threatened or passed in 2014

There will be a measure of the November 14, 2014 ballot to repeal election-day registration.

North Carolina

North Carolina

Voter suppression measure passed or announced in 2013

In 2013, North Carolina passed a broad voter suppression bill that eliminates a week of early voting, end same-day registration, and prohibit out-of-precinct" voting and requires photo ID for voters. The ACLU is in court to block the law before the 2014 election.

Ohio

Ohio

Voter suppression measure threatened or passed in 2014

In February 2014, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed into law several bills that will rewrite voting rules in the state, eliminating a number of early voting and registration opportunities as well as tightening identification standards.

Texas

Texas

Voter suppression measure passed or announced in 2013

In 2011, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 14 (SB 14), a Voter ID law, which was blocked by the U.S. Department of Justice. Because of the Supreme Court's ruling in 2013, voters are now required to present an approved form of photo identification in order to vote in all Texas Elections. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas over this voter ID law.